The company plans to generate 40% of its energy by 2020 through non-greenhouse gas emitting resources, biomass fuels, conservation and energy efficiency. The programs include additional promotions involving CFL distribution to residential and commercial customers. The plan also include helping residential customers improve the energy efficiency of their existing homes or construct new energy-efficient ones.
The board approved spending over $113 million through 2020 on these initiatives, which are designed to achieve energy savings that exceed the goal for residential and commercial customers contained in the 40% goal. If customer participation meets expectations, the initiatives will save more than 208 million kilowatt-hours annually when the programs are fully launched. These new initiatives and savings are in addition to Santee Cooper’s current energy efficiency programs which include low-interest energy efficiency loans, free in-home energy audits; free on-line energy audits, commercial thermal energy storage and many other programs.
In a separate action, the board approved a $2 million increase to Santee Cooper’s Low-Interest Loan Program, expanding it from current limits of $3.5 million on loan to $5.5 million. This increase allows Santee Cooper to continue the popular program, which offers customers an affordable way to pay for energy efficient improvements such as installing energy efficient heat pumps, adding an optimum amount of insulation, and installing energy efficiency windows.
“When our Board approved our conservation and renewable energy goal in 2007, they set a tall order for this utility. I’m pleased to say that today’s action puts us well down that path, and it underscores our commitment to lead our customers to using energy more efficiently,” said Santee Cooper president and chief executive officer Lonnie Carter. “We know the burden is on Santee Cooper to design programs that meet customers’ needs while also helping them save energy. These programs will help our customers change their habits and their energy infrastructure, resulting in long-term benefits for us all.”
Santee Cooper gave out over 750,000 CFL bulbs to residential customers in the spring and summer of 2008. The refrigerator program will feature incentives that help customers buy new Energy Star rated refrigerators, and additional incentives when they turn in their older, less efficient refrigerators.
Two other programs that will help residential customers ensure that their homes are as efficient as possible are Santee Cooper’s Energy Efficient New Home Program and Energy Efficient Retrofits for Existing Homes Program. These programs will offer up-front incentives to customers building new homes or improving existing homes.
These new initiatives will begin this year and continue through 2020. Additional details will be announced as these programs are launched.
Santee Cooper’s progress in developing renewable energy, conservation and energy efficiency programs is a key part of its balanced approach to meeting South Carolina’s energy needs, an approach that also includes new base load generation. The state anticipates 1 million more residents by 2025.
“Our job is to make sure that the lights stay on across South Carolina, in a low cost, reliable, and environmentally friendly manner. These energy efficiency programs are one part of the overall solution,” Carter said.
